Notables:
-The pitching matchup of the day was in St. Louis where Cole Hamels tossed eight scoreless innings giving up only one hit. Adam Wainwright was equal to the task with six innings of no-run ball himself. The game was scoreless until the top of the 11th when Placido Polanco went all Mitch and "unleashed the fury" with a solo shot which proved to be the game winner.
-Despite a no-decision, Josh Johnson added to his Cy Young resume with 6.1 innings of one-run ball. He struck out 11 and walked only one, lowering his ERA to 1.61. He has 18 straight starts of 6.0 innings or more. He has 10 straight starts with at least five strikeouts. He has 12 straight starts of two earned runs or less. He has 19 straight starts of three earned runs or less. He has 20 total starts this year. I'm impressed.
-In the same game as Johnson's gem, Jorge De La Rosa turned in a solid performance with eight Ks and only two runs over six innings. Obviously a step in the right direction.
-Ty Wiggington and Juan Samuel went ballistic in their game and got tossed. It was entertaining to say the least. Wiggington was right on his argument without a doubt. What has been worse this year, MLB umps or World Cup officiating?
-Livan Hernandez continued to roll, throwing a complete game. He allowed only one run on seven hits, all of which were singles. This was the first time the Nats won back-to-back road games since May 12-13.
-Justin Verlander improved to 12-5, tossing 120 pitches over eight innings. I'd normally be concerned about the pitch count but this seems to be the norm for him (he's thrown 112 pitches or more 14 times so far this season).
-Tim Hudson moved to 10-5 with seven innings of no-run ball. He struck out four and walked one. Teammate Jason Heyward went 2-for-5 and is now 7-for-15 over his last three games. Looks like his thumb is doing much better.
-Yovani Gallardo made a successful return from the DL with six scoreless innings en route to his ninth win.
-Jorge Posada had an eventful day behind the dish. First he allowed two successful stolen bases. Brett Gardner threw a frozen rope to him to nail Billy Butler at the plate but the replay showed Posada laid down a "phantom tag" which got the call despite Butler being safe. Next, he doubled in Robinson Cano and scored later on a sac fly. Then he threw the ball away trying to get the runner at third rather than the sure out at first. Finally he threw out Scott Podsednik at third on a strikeout-throw-them-out at third. However, Pods was called safe even though replay showed he was out.
-In the same game I thought Girardi blew it. Joba Chamberlain loaded the bases with two outs, having thrown 26 pitches tonight (20 last night) and Girardi left him in the game. He got away with it as Joba induced a ground ball to end the threat but why not bring in Mariano Rivera for the four-out save? The Yanks scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth and Rivera was never called upon. Instead, the Yanks turned to flamethrower Chan Ho Park.
-Cliff Lee allowed only two runs over 8.1 innings before giving away to Neftali Feliz, even though he had thrown only 99 pitches. Lee gave up the game tying run in the ninth last time out which may have played into this. I'll go out on a limb and say Lee will be the best pitcher to change teams this year via trade.
-John Lackey had a no-hitter until the eighth inning until Josh Bard laced a clean single. Earlier there was a questionable error given to Bill Hall (who had fielded a "single" he should have had after the no-hitter). This made me stay up past my "turn into a pumpkin time" (i.e. past 12:00 EST). Updated, I'm still watching. Delcarmen has made this fun . A bomb to Franklin Gutierrez and an error on Marco Scutaro has made things interesting. Maybe signing UZR players isn't the answer. Update: Bill Hall error ties the game in the ninth.
Save Chances:
-John Axford, converted. Axford went 1.2 innings, striking out two for the save. I was told earlier this year Zach Braddock was the future closer, am I missing something here?
-Neftali Feliz is now great friends with Cliff Lee, recording the save for him. I'm still trying to wrap my head around how Chris Liss got 14:1 odds for the Rangers winning the World Series. Awesome value and I'm not being sarcastic for once (see "flamethrower Chan Ho Park").
-He needed 20 pitches but Hong-Chih Kuo got the save with two strikeouts.
Other Closer Outings:
-Leo Nunez got the win after pitching a scoreless top of the ninth, striking out the side. Jerry Manuel take note here; you can win games by using your closer in a non-save situation.
Non-Closer Outings:
-Shawn Camp gave up two runs in an inning of work with the game close. I'm very curious to see who get the next Toronto save opportunity.
-Mike Gonzalez made his first appearance since April 9, recording two outs. I can't help but think the Orioles give him a ton of exposure and seek out buyers over the next two weeks. Don't worry about the walk tonight; it was intentional.
-Chad Qualls went 2.0 innings without a run which is a miracle for this season. Am I believer? Not yet but this is starting a path on the yellow brick road for him.
Tough Days:
-Edinson Volquez got torched to the tune of six runs over 2.1 innings. He walked four and gave up five hits so there's still some rust from his DL stint.
-Padres reliever Ryan Webb gave up four earned runs over .2 innings on Thursday. Throw in the two earned runs he gave up in an inning of relief on Tuesday and his ERA has jumped from 2.19 to 3.49.
Injuries/Lineup-ology:
-Rick Ankiel was activated off the DL but not in the starting lineup. He entered the game after David DeJesus left the game with a thumb injury. Might be difficult to trade DeJesus now.
-Alberto Callaspo was traded and will now be the starting 3B for the Halos. The Brandon Wood experiment is dead.
-Jamie Moyer will be out for a significant period of time. Jayson Werth will not be in a Phillies uniform much longer, I'd grab Domonic Brown in just about any league with a bench spot. Brown (.337/.367/.518 in 84 Triple-A at-bats) should be grabbed as a speculative pick now, not when all the other "experts" give the same advice after his promotion.
-Travis Snider has three home runs over his last four games with a six-RBI day on Thursday and should be recalled soon. Or so logical would indicate.
-Troy Tulowitzki has gone 1-for-4 with a walk in two rehab starts over the last two days. Expect to see him back in the Rockies lineup some time next week.
Stolen Bases:
-Jason Giambi (2, no this is not a typo), Miguel Olivo (5), Chris Coghlan (10), Gaby Sanchez (4), Nyjer Morgan 3 (24, and no CS?), Scott Podsednik 2 (27), Willie Bloomquist (6), Jose Tabata (10), Nelson Cruz (12), Chris Davis (2), Jason Kendall (7), Milton Bradley (7), Chris Young (20), Aubrey Huff (5), Aaron Rowand (3)
Caught Stealing:
Home Runs:
-Ian Stewart (13), Cody Ross (8), Adam Dunn (23), Rogearvin Bernadina (6), John Buck (14), Michael Cuddyer (10), Derek Jeter (9), Prince Fielder (24), Michael Young (13), Rickie Weeks (19), Alex Rodriguez (16 – he's got three home runs in 10 PAs against Friday's starter Brian Bannister), Mike Napoli (18), Andres Torres (9), Bill Hall (9), JD Drew (12), Marco Scutaro (5), Franklin Gutierrez (9), Matt Kemp (Mr. Rihanna) (17)
Can't Make This Up Department:
-The Mariners sent out a lineup with eight of the nine batters (minus Ichiro) batting .256 or less.
Non-Baseball Related Notes:
-Anyone think that teams playing USC in college football might run the score up on them? Is it surprising that NFL teams have approached Pete Carroll each year for the last five and the year he jumps to the NFL there's sanctions against USC? Coincidence?
-Is anyone surprised that college football players might being doing things the NCAA doesn't condone? Would it be surprising to see NCAA basketball players targeted next? -John Calipari has had Tyreke Evans, Derek Rose and John Wall as his last three point guards. Coincidence?
-Please put the Brett Favre speculation on the backburner until there is something definitive. Please.
-I think Chris Paul in a Knicks uniform is the consensus #1 pick in fantasy basketball. If he's not, I'd still take LBJ as the top pick. I still don't see Miami winning it all next year without an above average PG or C, just my opinion.
-Dez Bryant gets suspended by the NCAA for failing to disclose his relationship with Deion Sanders/and or possibly agents (alleged). Sanders played for and has solid relations with the Cowboys. Bryant is drafted and signs first among first round picks with the Cowboys. Coincidence?
-Jeff Gordon donated $1.5 million to Riley's Children's Foundation without needing an hour special on ESPN where he chose the sponsors. Kudos to the Rainbow Warrior.
-Thierry Henry scored for the NY Red Bulls in his first game donning the uniform. Let's hope he's delivers and doesn't go the Lothar Matthaus route for the MLS.
-The Buffalo Bills (my hometown) were estimated to be worth $909 million by Forbes. Apparently Forbes hasn't seen their offensive line and I'm a glass-half-full (optimistic) kind of guy.